NRG Systems receives governor’s award for Worksite Wellness

NRG Systems, manufacturer of wind measurement equipment and long-time proponent of healthy workplaces, received the silver Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Worksite Wellness Award yesterday at the annual Worksite Wellness Conference held in Burlington. NRG Systems’ wellness program, called NRGize Your Life, was recognized for its healthy workplace and wellness initiatives that encourage ‘people to engage in physical fitness activities and eat nutritiously, both on and off the job.’
‘NRG Systems recognizes that healthy and happy employees are more productive employees,’ said Jan Blittersdorf, president and CEO of NRG Systems. ‘Sustainability is central to our mission and it applies to both the long-term health of our company and our employees. We’re constantly on the lookout for new ways to promote healthy lifestyles for our employees at work and at home.’
In addition to offering onsite yoga, pilates and massages, the company’s environmentally-friendly manufacturing facilities feature a fitness room, lap pool and showers to enable employees to exercise during their workday. NRG Systems also provides healthy lunches, featuring local and organic foods, to employees free of charge four days a week.
‘The lunch benefit is incredibly popular,’ said Anna Grady, human resources and administration manager at NRG Systems. ‘Not only does it promote camaraderie and encourage healthier eating habits, it also helps reduce carbon emissions by keeping employees here at lunchtime instead of driving somewhere to eatâ ¦We’re really fortunate to have such great support from our company’s management team. Without their support, our program wouldn’t be nearly as successful.’
A newer wellness benefit offered by NRG Systems is its bicycle reimbursement program. Through this initiative, employees and members of their families are reimbursed up to $350 per year for the purchase of new bicycles, bike safety equipment and bike maintenance. Since its inception last year, almost half of the company’s 113 employees have taken advantage of the bicycle benefit.
‘We try to offer a variety of wellness activities and initiatives to encourage a broad base of participation,’ said Stephanie Drew, coordinator for the NRGize team. ‘For example, some of our employees really enjoy playing basketball, so the NRGize team held an internal bake sale to raise some funds for a basketball hoop. The company pitched in to cover the rest.’
NRG Systems sponsors employee teams in outside wellness events such as the Corporate Cup Challenge Race and Dragonheart Vermont.
The company’s NRGize Your Life Committee was formally established in 2008 and is lead by a cross-departmental group of seven employees. NRG Systems was one of 18 companies with 51 to 150 employees to win a silver award. Seventy-nine Vermont companies participated in the award process.
About the Governor’s Worksite Wellness Award:
Each year, the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recognizes Vermont employers which promote a work environment that encourages and enables employees to improve their overall health. For more information visit: http://healthvermont.gov/family/fit/worksitewellness.aspx#awards.
About NRG Systems:
NRG Systems’ wind measurement equipment can be found on every continent in more than 140 countries, serving electric utilities, wind farm developers, research institutes, and government agencies. Founded in 1982, the Hinesburg company has been nationally recognized for its LEED gold-certified manufacturing facility and its employee best-practices. For more information on NRG Systems, Inc., visit www.nrgsystems.com.